John Joseph Havlicek ( HAV-lih-chek; April 8, 1940 – April 25, 2019), often nicknamed Hondo, was an American professional basketball player who spent his entire 16-year career with the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Havlicek won eight NBA championships — one of three NBA players with an unsurpassed 8–0 record in the NBA Finals series — and was voted the NBA Finals MVP in 1974.
A swingman, Havlicek played college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1959 to 1962, winning an NCAA championship in 1960. He was selected by the Celtics in the 1962 NBA draft and played with the team until his retirement in 1978. A 13-time NBA All-Star, Havlicek was named to the All-NBA First Team four times and to the All-NBA Second Team seven times. He was also named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team on five occasions and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team three times. Havlicek is known for his stamina and his hustle as well as his abilities.
During his career with the Celtics, he became known for stealing the ball to save the game–and the Celtics' playoff hopes–near the end of game seven in the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals. Havlicek served as captain of the Celtics from 1969 to 1978, and was named NBA Finals MVP in 1974. Following his retirement, his number 17 jersey was retired by the Celtics. Havlicek was inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.
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Early life
Havlicek was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio, where his parents ran a general store. He was of Czech and Croatian descent, from his father and mother respectively.
Havlicek was a three-sport athlete at Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio, where he was a boyhood friend of Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro. During his senior year of high school Havlicek earned All-Ohio honors in all three sports. As for his basketball stats, he scored 1,594 career points in 59 games along with averaging 30+ points per game his junior and senior seasons. Additionally, he scored a school record 53 points in a 103-101 overtime win over Cadiz as a junior. He also played in the Ohio North-South All-Star game with Jerry Lucas. As for the other sports he participated in, Havlicek was quarterback and captain of the football team for all four years, and hit .444 and .484 in his junior and senior seasons of baseball.
Collegiate career
Havlicek played college basketball at Ohio State University with future seven-time NBA All-Star Jerry Lucas (who was his roommate), future first-round NBA draft pick Larry Siegfried, future coaching legend Bobby Knight, and Mel Nowell, among many others. He also played football under Woody Hayes during his freshman year before deciding to focus solely on basketball. During his sophomore year the 1960 Ohio State Buckeyes, coached by head coach Fred Taylor and assistant coaches Jack Graf and Frank Truitt, won the 1960 NCAA title. That year Havlicek appeared in 28 games scoring 12.2 ppg. Havlicek was named as an alternate of the 1960 United States national team that competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics. Havlicek went on to average 14.5 ppg his junior year and 17.0 ppg his senior year earning All-Big Ten honors both years and was named an All-American his senior year.
During his time at Ohio State, Havlicek was primarily known for his defensive ability, however he still managed to score 1,223 points during his three year tenure. During this period the Buckeyes won 78 of 84 games and captured the Big Ten championship all three years.
Professional career
Boston Celtics (1960s)
Havlicek was drafted by the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League (ABL), and the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) in 1962. However, after the Pipers failed in their bid to join the NBA (partially due to Havlicek competing briefly as a wide receiver in the Browns' training camp), Havlicek became a full-time Celtic. A swingman who could play either guard or forward, he was known for his stamina, with competitors stating that it was a challenge just to keep up with him. Head coach Red Auerbach went on to call him "the guts of the team". Nicknamed "Hondo" (a nickname inspired by the 1953 movie of the same name starring John Wayne), Havlicek revolutionized the "sixth man" role in the NBA, coming off the bench for the Celtics during his early years.
During his rookie year in the 1962–63 season he played all 80 games coming off the bench and made an immediate impact averaging 14.3 PPG, 2.2 APG and 6.7 RPG. His play resulted in him being named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. During the postseason Havlicek appeared in 11 of the Celtics 13 playoff games and averaged 11.5 PPG as he and the Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 to win the 1963 NBA Finals. The following year during the 1963-64 season Havlicek once again appeared in all 80 games. His scoring increased as he averaged nearly 20.0 PPG. This resulted in his first All-NBA Second Team selection. He also scored a regular season best 43 points during a game vs. the Baltimore Bullets on December 17, 1963. The Celtics once again finished the year with the league's best record, and Havlicek appeared in all 10 postseason games averaging 15.7 PPG as he and the Celtics defeated the San Francisco Warriors 4-1, winning his second straight championship.
Entering his third year in the 1964-65 season Havlicek missed multiple games for the first time, but still appeared in 75 of the 80 games for the Celtics that year. His numbers slightly decreased and he averaged 18.3 PPG, just under 5 rebounds, and 3 assists a game. However during the postseason that year Havlicek was immortalized for his clutch steal in the closing seconds of the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals. In the seventh and final game, played at Boston Garden on April 15, the Celtics led the Philadelphia 76ers 110–109 with five seconds left. They only needed to inbound the ball from underneath their basket to secure the victory and advance to the 1965 NBA Finals. However, Bill Russell's pass struck one of the basket's support wires hanging down from the ceiling, leading to a turnover that gave the 76ers and Wilt Chamberlain the ball with a chance to win the game. Hal Greer was set to throw the inbounds pass for the 76ers. Havlicek stood with his back to Greer, guarding Chet Walker. But as Greer's pass came inbounds, Havlicek spun, leaped, and tipped the pass to Sam Jones. Veteran referee Earl Strom, who wrote about the game in his memoir Calling the Shots, called Havlicek's reaction one of the greatest plays he ever saw in his 32 years as a professional official. Announcer Johnny Most's call of "Havlicek stole the ball!" was dubbed by the NBA as "the most famous radio call in basketball history." He and the Celtics would go on to defeat the Lakers 4-1 in the 1965 NBA Finals, securing Havlicek's third straight title.
1970s
Havlicek became a full-time starter in the 1969–1970 season following the retirement of many of the Celtics prominent players such as Bill Russell, Sam Jones and K.C. Jones. That year his old teammate Tom Heinsohn became the Celtics new head coach. Heinsohn named Havlicek the Celtics' captain in 1969, a role he would hold until 1978. As many of the Celtics stars from the 1960s retired Havlicek "stood as the bridge from the Bill Russell era to the Celtics' next championship team". From here Havlicek became the Celtics star player and began playing 40+ minutes a game. During that year Havlicek played in 81 games averaging 24.2 PPG 7.8 RPG and 6.8 APG he also had a career best .464 FG%. During a game on March 8, 1970, vs. the Milwaukee Bucks Havlicek scored a regular season best 43 points. Havlicek also led the league in triple doubles with 8. He earned his 5th All-Star game and All-NBA Second Team selections along with his second NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection. Despite his tremendous play throughout the regular season, he and the Celtics missed the playoffs for the first time since 1950.
The following year in the 1970-71 season saw Havlicek play in 81 games, leading the league in minutes played with 45.4 minutes a game. This year also saw Havlicek record career highs in scoring, rebounding, and assists, with 28.9 PPG, 9.0 RPG, and 7.5 APG. He finished in the top 10 in points, assists, and free‐throw percentage. During the year Havlicek set the Celtics single season record for scoring (2338 points), field goal attempts (1982 shots), and minutes per game (45.4). For his efforts Havlicek finally earned his first All-NBA First Team selection, his sixth All-Star Game, and his third and final NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection. However despite having a winning record, the Celtics missed the playoffs for a second straight year. During the offseason Havlicek held out for one week before signing an undisclosed multi-year contract extension with the Celtics.
Havlicek played all 82 games during the 1971-72 season and once again played 45 minutes a game. Havlicek had one 40+ point game a month from January to March 1972. Havlicek continued to be the Celtics main scorer throughout the year, scoring 27.5 PPG along with 8.2 RPG and matching his career high in assists with 7.5 per game. Havlicek set another Celtics single season record that with 3698 minutes played throughout the season. Havlicek also led the league in triple doubles for a second time with 8. He received his second All-NBA First Team selection, seventh All-Star selection, and was named to his first All-Defensive First Team. That year he and the Celtics returned to the playoffs with the best record in the Eastern Conference. Havlicek averaged 27.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, and 6.4 APG during the postseason as the Celtics advanced to the second round before being defeated 4-1 by the Knicks.
Legacy
"'On stamina alone, he'd be among the top players who ever played the game" longtime New York Knicks coach Red Holzman once said of John "Hondo" Havlicek. "It would've been fair to those who had to play him or those who had to coach against him if he had been blessed only with his inhuman endurance. God had to compound it by making him a good scorer, smart ballhandler and intelligent defensive player with quickness of mind, hands and feet".
Havlicek retired as a 13-time NBA All-Star, and his number 17 jersey was retired by the Celtics. At the time, Havlicek was the NBA career leader in games played (a mark surpassed in 1984 by Elvin Hayes) and was in third place on the list of all-time NBA leaders in points scored. Longtime Celtics teammate Bill Russell once described Havlicek as "'the best all-around ballplayer [he] ever saw'". At the time of his death, Havlicek was the Celtics' all-time leading scorer with 26,395 points (20.8 points per game). He was also the first player to score 1,000 points in 16 consecutive seasons, with his best scoring season coming during the 1970–71 season, when he averaged 28.9 points per game. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team five times and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team three times.
Havlicek finished his 16-year career with eight NBA championships. As of 2019, only Bill Russell (with 11) and Sam Jones (with 10)--both of whom were Celtics teammates of Havlicek's--had won more NBA championships than he had. Havlicek won all eight NBA Finals in which he participated.
In 1980, Havlicek was selected as one of the league's greatest players ever, being named to the NBA 35th Anniversary Team. In 1984, Havlicek became a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1996, he was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History by a panel of journalists, players, coaches, executives, and general managers. He was also named the 14th best player of all time in Bill Simmons's Book of Basketball. In October 2021, Havlicek was again honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. To commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary, The Athletic published their own list of the top 75 players of all time, ranking Havlicek as the 29th-greatest player in NBA history.
In 1974, Havlicek received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement. In 2007, Bridgeport High School in his hometown renamed their gymnasium "John J. Havlicek Gymnasium". Fellow NBA Hall of Famer Chris Mullin wore number 17 as a tribute to Havlicek. In October 2022, Havlicek was inaugurated into the Croatian-American Sports Hall of Fame. In December 2022, the NBA named the newly redesigned trophy presented to the NBA Sixth Man of the Year the "John Havlicek Trophy" in his honor.
Post-playing career
Havlicek was shrewd with his money during his playing career, and he invested much of this income in the Wendy's fast food chain during its formative years. The success of his investments left Havlicek with a comfortable income after retirement and he never had to work for a conventional salary again. He had no desire to coach; instead, he served as a corporate speaker and served as a substitute color commentator during Celtics games from 1983-1989.
Havlicek was a member of the board of the Genesis Foundation, which assists children with disabilities and genetic disorders. He and his wife Beth held the John Havlicek Celebrity Fishing Tournament for more than three decades, with proceeds going to the foundation.
Personal life
Havlicek met his wife, Beth, while both were attending Ohio State University. The couple married in 1967. They had two children: a son named Chris and a daughter named Jill. Chris Havlicek attended the University of Virginia on a basketball scholarship in the early 1990s. Jill Havlicek married former Major League Baseball outfielder and coach Brian Buchanan. He had 7 grandchildren.
During his retirement Havlicek spent his free time being an avid outdoorsmen splitting his time between Massachusetts and Florida, where he enjoyed fishing and playing golf.
Havlicek had Parkinson's disease during his later years. He died on April 25, 2019, in Jupiter, Florida at the age of 79. Following his death, Boston City Hall was lit in green in his memory. The Celtics held a special tribute their first home game following his death, which included the Celtics warmup jerseys featuring Havlicek's #17 along with tributes from his former teammates Bill Russell and Tommy Heinsohn, a highlight video, and a standing ovation from the fans in attendance.
NBA career statistics
Career highlights and awards
NBA
NBA champion: 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976
NBA Finals MVP: 1974
NBA All-Star: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978
All-NBA First Team: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974
All-NBA Second Team: 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1976
NBA All-Defensive First Team: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976
NBA All-Defensive Second Team: 1969, 1970, 1971
NBA All-Rookie First Team: 1963
NBA anniversary team 35th, 50th, 75th
2× NBA minutes played leaders: (1971, 1972)
No. 17 retired by Boston Celtics on October 13, 1978
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: 1984
College
NCAA champion: 1960
Consensus second-team All-American: 1962
Third-team All-American AP: 1961
First-team All-Big Ten: 1961, 1962
Ohio State Buckeyes Athletic Hall of Fame: 1977
No. 5 retired by Ohio State Buckeyes on February 27, 2005
National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame:
Other honors
Recipient of the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement in 1974
National High School Hall of Fame: 1987
Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame: 2006
Croatian-American Sports Hall of Fame: 2022
Lou Holtz Hall of Fame Honoree
Boston Celtics records
Career
Points: 26395
Games played: 1270
Minutes played: 46471
Field goals: 10513
Two point field goals: 10513
Season
Minutes played: 3698 (1971-72)
Two point field goals: 897 (1971-71)
Minutes per game: 45.4 (1970-71)
Points: 2338 (1970-71)
Two point field goals per game: 11.0 (1970-71)
Field goal attempts per game: 24.5 (1970-71)
Most points in a postseason game: (54) game one of the conference semifinals in 1973